Minor Flood Warning Issued for Haughton River and Giru in Queensland

Alert Details

The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued an Initial Minor Flood Warning (IDQ20740) for the Haughton River catchment. This warning follows moderate rainfall observed across the region since Friday morning, leading to rising river and creek levels.

Affected Areas

The primary areas affected include the Haughton River catchment in Queensland, with specific impacts noted for:

• Giru: Minor flooding is likely to begin late Saturday afternoon.
• Mt Piccaninny: Minor flooding is currently occurring.
• Major Creek: Rising river levels observed upstream of the Haughton River.
• Powerline: Rising river levels observed.

What You Should Do

Residents in the warning area are advised to take the following safety precautions:

• Do not drive, walk, swim, or play in floodwater as it is dangerous.
• Stay away from flooded drains, rivers, streams, and waterways.
• Obey all road closure signs and plan travel to avoid flooded roads.
• Monitor the ABC and local media for updates as the situation can change quickly.
• For emergency assistance, contact the SES at 132 500. In life-threatening emergencies, call 000 immediately.

Expected Conditions

Moderate rainfall has triggered rises along Major Creek and the Haughton River. At Giru, the river was recorded at 0.43 m and steady as of 7:59 am Saturday, but it is forecast to exceed the minor flood level of 1.80 m late Saturday afternoon. The river may reach approximately 2.00 m by Saturday evening. Further showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the remainder of Saturday and into Sunday, which may lead to additional river level rises.

Timeline

The warning was issued at 8:36 am AEST on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Minor flooding is expected to commence at Giru late Saturday afternoon and continue through the evening. The Bureau of Meteorology expects to issue the next update by 9:00 am AEST on Sunday, March 8, 2026.